HB 536 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in decrees and records, further providing for definitions and for original birth record.

HB 536 amends Pennsylvania law to clarify how adoptees can access noncertified copies of their original birth records. The bill defines a "noncertified copy" as a summary photocopy containing only basic birth details (parent names, birth date/location, and child's birth name) with a disclaimer that it is not certified. Adoptees aged 18 or older, or descendants of deceased adoptees, can request this copy from the Department of Health within 45 days. Additionally, birth parents can now submit a notarized redaction request form to have their name removed from the adoptee's record, with the option to later reverse this decision, and the Department must post clear guidelines about this process online.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Feb 10, 2025